Wagon-body.



No. 659,I60. Patented Oct. 2, I900. W. G. STEWART.

WAGON BODY (Application filed Feb. 10, 1900.) um 1401181.

UNITED STATES WALTER G. STEWART, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

WAGON-BODY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,160, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed February 10, 1900. serial No. 4,715. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER G. STEWART, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wagon- Bodies, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

My invention relates more particularly to wagon-bodies; and my object is to provide an improved skeleton structure which shall combine lightness, simplicity, and economy of construction with ample strength, novel and attractive appearance, and reduced cost of maintenance.

The invention consistsin providingasimple and eifective truss structure in which is embodied and utilized a suitable sign-rail and in which tubing or bars of circular cross-section are rigidly connected in such manner as to especially adapt the structure for the intended use and at the same time retain the original form and unbroken lengths of the tubing or bars, and thereby secure the greatest strength with a minimum of material and labor and easy taking apart for repairs.

The invention is fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and is specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wagonbody embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged detail views showing the novel means employed to rigidly connect the continuous horizontal and vertical members. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a sectional elevation and a sectional plan indicating, on enlarged scale, the manner of rigidly fastening the sign-rail to the standards.

In the construction shown in the drawings each lower stringer or chord A, upon which the verticals or standards B are erected, forms a longitudinal sill of a wagon-body, to which are secured suitable flooring and crosssills A. Each standard B, except the forward corner-post B on each sill, which, as shown, is of wood, is formed, preferably, of a single piece of pipe rising vertically from the sill or bottom rail A, to which it is rigidly secured, as indicated, by means of a boltingfiange B and having its upper portion bent outward in an easy curve at b, so as to provide an inclined support I) for the shelving-rails O and O, hereinafter described. Each free end I) is neatly finished in any suitable manner. The orginal rolled form and strength of the pipe or solid bar is thus retained in the finished standard, which is at the same time neat, strong, and inexpensive. In order, however, to use satisfactorily in a business-wagon the simple form of standard described, it is necessary to provide for so con necting them with the longitudinal members or rails as to secure not only the rigidity of a truss structure-adapted to carry the strains put upon it without yielding or distortion, but also convenient support for kegs or barrels intended more particularly to be loaded upon the wagon and a satisfactory showing of the name or business of the user. I therefore so arrange the parts of the structure that they shall cooperate to the attainment of these objects. As stated, this skeleton body is particularly suited, as shown, for the hauling and handling of kegs of beer and the like, which it is important to have firmly supported at any point upon the parallel shelvingrails C O, as indicated by the dotted circle in Fig. 2, while at the same time permitting easy removal thereof. Said rails,asshown,arefulllength pipes or bars resting upon the upper surfaces of the successive inclined shelving portions b of the standards B and so spaced as to firmly support the round kegs between them without allowing them to come in contact with the standards upon which the rails are mounted. In order to rigidly secure these one-piece rails to the supporting-standards B, upon which they would otherwise bear with a single point of contact on each, andto provide at the same time a neat finish at these junction-points, I have devised a saddle-piece D, which, as shown, is practically a tortuously-bent fillet-ring, the radial cross-section of which at all points .is triangular, as indicated at d, and which forms reversely-curved top and bottom seats (1 and diarranged at about right angles to each other and adapted to partially encircle the rail and standard, respectively. The central opening (i permits the free passage of a clamping-bolt E, which, as shown, passes also through holes drilled in the rail and standard and serves to firmly draw the latter together upon the interposed saddle-piece, thus making a rigid connection, which is effectually maintained not only by the strength of the clampingbo1t-,but also by the saddle-piece,which serves to lock them against relative movement, as well as to provide ample bearing and a neat fillet finish.

In the construction of each side of the body as thus far described the longitudinal sill A forms the lower chord, the longitudinal rails O C the upper chord, and the standards B B the posts or verticals of a truss; but in order to secure the real strength and rigidity of the latter it is necessary to provide for carrying the strains from the several posts to the points of support, as is commonly done in truss structures, by means of inclined braces or obliques. Appreciating this need of bracing for carrying such diagonal strains and preventing distortion of the main members I have provided for utilizing for this purpose a feature which, independently of this special use, is an important one in such a structure as a business wagonnamely, a sign-rail F. This rail, which is preferably of hard. wood, extends, as shown, the full length of the body, bearing flatwise against the standards B B about midway between the rail 0 and lower chord or sill A and is firmly secured to each of said standards, so as to form a continuous wide-bracing rail adapted to effectively stilfen each of the latter between the chords and to carry the oblique strains therefrom. The means of attachment of this bracing sign-rail to the standards comprise, as shown, clip-bolts G and G, passing through the former near the top and bottom edges, respectively, and around the standard and serving to draw the grooves f on the contacting face of the sign rail into such close engagement with the standards as to give great rigidity to the latter. As shown, the forward end of the sign-rail overlaps the corner-post B, to which it is rigidly fastened, and bolts 9 are passed through both sign-rail and standards to more effectively prevent relative movement of these parts when under strain.

The forward ends of both rails O and O are firmly secured to the end or corner post B, a double connection-piece B on the latter being preferably employed, while their rear ends, as shown, are clamped to the end standard B, as described, with the lower rail 0 somewhat extended to serve as a fastening for the tail-gate. This latter, as shown, is

built up similarly to the sides of the wagon, except that the vertical members or standards are not bent outward at the top and have their lower ends hinged to the cross-sill A, while the gate-rail O is extended at each end and arranged to engage the longitudinal rails C on each side of the wagon, so as to lock the gate thereto when raised. The two corner-posts B in front are rigidly connected transversely and carry the seat and footboard, as usual.

The rear standards B are provided with braces 13, and similar braces may be employed to support the shelving formed by the rails C C on the overhanging portions 1) of the intermediate standards, the spread of which rails, however, gives great lateral rigidity to the trussed sides even without such intermediate bracing to the sills, thereby providing both vertical and side strains on the structure.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with the bed,and standards thereon having their upper portions outwardly inclined,of longitudinal shelving-rails rigidly secured to said outwardly-inclined portions of the standards and a longitudinal sign-rail placed flatwise against the vertical portions of a series of standards and firmly secured to each of said standards to rigidly brace the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the bed, of vertical side standards thereon formed of pipes or cylindrical bars having their upper portions outwardly inclined, and two suitably-spaced longitudinal shelvingrails formed of pipes or cylindrical bars, supported upon the top surfaces of said inclined portions of the standards and rigidly secured thereto at each point of contact, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the vertical standards formed of pipes or cylindrical bars, of the cylindrical rail extending crosswise of said standards, saddle-rings interposed between said rail and the standards at each point of attachment thereto and formed with reverselycurved bearings or seats for said standards and rail respectively, and means for clamping said standard, railand saddle-ring firmly together, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me, at Reading, Pennsylvania, this 9th day of February, 1900.

XVALTER G. STEWART.

Witnesses:

D. M. STEWART, ADAM L. OTTERBEIN. 

